Power ice-cutting machine.



R. A. GAUL.

POWER ICE CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 11111.17, 1912.

1,063,527, Patented June 3, 1913.

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R. A. GAUL.

POWER IUE CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.17,1912.

1,063,527, Patented June 3, 1913.

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RUFUS GAUL, OF EPHRATA, PENNSYLVANIA.

' POWER ICE-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 17, 1912.

Patented June 3, 1913.

Serial No. 691,492.

T0 all w/z-om t may concern Be it known that I, RUFUs A. GAUL, a citizenof the United States, residing at Ephrata, in the county of Lancasterand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Power Ice-Cutting Machines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a power driven ice cutting machine, such as isemployed for harvesting ice on large fields, such as rivers, lakes, andponds.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this class thatshall be cheap, durable and efficient, and containing few parts.

Another object of the invention is to construct a device of this classthat shall effect the cutting by a rotary saw and in which side swing ofthe saw is prevented by guide shoes following a previous cut.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means whereby thesaw may be raised clear of the ice, and also improved traction means fordriving the machine over the ice.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in a certainconstruction and combination of parts as will hereinafter be fullydescribed and claimed in the annexed specication and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, and inwhich like figures of reference refer to corresponding parts in all ofthe views; but it is fully A understood that while I have here describedmy invention as shown, that I do no-t confine myself to the exactdesign, as slight changes may be made in the construction andarrangement of the several parts with-` out departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1, is a side elevation of the device showing thesame in a position for cutting. Fig. 2, is a top plan view of the same.Fig. 3, is a det-ail view of one form of guide shoe and attaching means.Fig. 4, is a side elevation of the machine with the power plant removedand showing the device in an inoperative position. Fig. 5, is a frontend elevation of the machine. Fig. 6, is a rear end elevation of themachine. Fig. 7, is a detail view of a modified form of guide shoe andsecuring means.

Referring to the drawings; the machine comprises a bed or frame 1,rectangular in form, and provided at the rear end with the supportingwheels 2; while adjacent thereto, are mounted the traction or propellingspurred wheels 3, which are secured upon the axle 4, mounted in thejournals 5, attached to the frame 1. Near the forward end of the machineare secured a pair of guides 6, within which are slidably mounted thevertical arms 7, upon the lower ends of which are mounted the forwardsupporting wheels 8, which support the forward end of the frame. Forwardof the wheels S, is rotatably mounted in the bearings 9, secured to theframe 1, the shaft 10, upon which is secured the rotary saw 11, which isoperated by a pulley 12, secured upon said shaft 10, and driven by abelt 13, from a pulley 14, on the crank-shaft 15, of the engine 16,which is mounted on the-frame 1.

For driving the machine forward, a frame 17, is provided within which ismounted a counter-shaft 18, upon which is secured a pulley 19, and aspro-cket 20; the pulley 19, being driven by a belt 21, from a pulley22, secured upon a shaft 23, mounted upon the engine 16, and driven bythe reducing gears 24, and 25, from the engine shaft 15; while thesprocket 20, drives by the chain 26, a sprocket 27, mounted on the axle4, and hence the traction wheels 3.

For raising the saw 11, clear of the cut and at the same time stoppingthe forward drive of the machine, there are provided the uprights 28,which are secured to the frame l, near the forward end thereof, andwhich are braced by the braces 29, and 30. Upon said uprights 28, arepivoted the operating handles 31, the rear ends of which are pivoted tothe upper ends of the vertical arms 7, in such a way that when theforward ends of said handles 31, are raised, the frame 1, will be liftedwith respect to the wheels 8, and on the wheels 2, thus raising the saw11, and the traction wheels 3, clear of the ice, as shown in Fig. 4, forthe purpose of stopping the action of the machine and effecting theturning of the same at the end of a cut. The handles 31, may be retainedin a raised position by the prop 32, which is hinged to the end of theframe 1, and provided with the lug 33, for engaging the handle brace 34,and the lug 35, by which it may be actuated by the operators foot.

For preventing any side swing of the machine, I have provided upon therear end, a guide shoe 36, which follows in the saw cut and which ismounted on the lower end of a rod 37, vertically and movably mounted inthe guide ways 38, attached to the frame; said rod 37, being held ineither a raised or lowered position by notches 39, adapted to engage theupper guides 3S, and held in engagement by the tension spring 40, thusallowing the shoe 36, to be raised clear of the saw cut in the turningsof the machine.

As illustrated in Figs l, 2, 4, and 5, the forward guide comprises ahorizontal rod 4l, adjustably mounted in the brackets 42, attached tothe frame l, and held in place by the set screws 43; while upon said rod41, is adjustably mounted the guide shoes 44, which are held by the setscrews 45, in place, and which are intended to run in the last cut made.

As shown in Fig. 3, a modified form of guide is illustrated whichcomprises a plate 46, secured to the end of the frame; said plate 46, issupplied with the eyes 47, within which is mounted a rod 48, havingsecured thereto a horizontal arm 49, carrying an adjustable guide shoesaid rod 48, being held in place by a pin 5l, and the arm v49, bearingagainst the plate 46, in such a manner that the arm 49, may be swungeither to one side or the other as desired. A similar construction isshown in Fig. 7, which comprises a channel member 52, secured to t-heend of the frame l, and provided with the vertical pins 53, and 54; saidpin 53, securing the end of the arm 55, in a pivoted manner, and saidarm 55, being held in either'position by the pin 54.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In an ice cutting machine of the classdescribed, the combination with a frame having a motor mounted thereon,and of a rotary ice cutting saw, supporting wheels mounted upon saidframe near the rear end thereof, traction wheels mounted adjacent tosaid supporting wheels, and adapted to be operated by said motor,vertically movable supporting wheels mounted near the forward end ofsaid frame, means for raising the forward portion of said frame withrespect to said vertically movable supporting wheels for the purpose ofraising the traetion wheels and the rotary saw clear of the ice, andguiding means for governing the direction of the travel of said machine.

2. In an ice cutting machine of the class described, the combinationwith a frame having a motor mounted thereon and provided with a rotaryice cutting saw operated by said motor, of supporting wheels attached tosaid frame near the ends thereof, the rear pair of said wheelsstationary with respect to the frame, means for raising the frame in avertical manner with respect to the forward pair of said wheels, meansfor retaining said frame in a raised position, and adjustable means forguiding the travel of said machine.

3. In an ice cutting machine of the class described, the combinationwith a frame having a motor mounted thereon, a countershaft and a rotaryice cutting saw driven by said motor, of traction wheels mounted undersaid frame near the rear end thereof and driven by said counter-shaft,supporting wheels mounted under said frame near the rear end thereof,means for raising the forward portion of said machine on said rearsupporting wheels as a pivot, comprising vertically movable arms mountedupon said frame, support-ing wheels carried on the lower ends of saidarms, means for raising` the frame on said arms, and adjustable guidingmeans for said machine.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUFUS A. GAUL.

Witnesses Jol-IN J. THOMPSON, WM. J. COULTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

I Washington, D. C.

